Gun mounting for airplanes



May so, '1944. J Mmm 2,350,122

GUN MOUNTING FOR AIRPLANES Filed March 9; 1942 Fyz.

Patented May 30, 1944 TENT OFFICE GUN MOUNTING FOR AIR-PLANES Janies Martin, Higher Denham, near Uxbridge,

England Application March 9, 1942, Serial No. 434,012 In Great Britain March 15, 1941 3 Claims. (Cl. 894-375) This invention relates to mountings for machine guns or small cannon on airplanes, and is morev .particularly concerned with the rear mountings for the guns and the means for adjusting for direction and elevation. The object of this invention is to provide a compact, light and unitary assembly for the mounting of the rear part oi a gun which includes the means for adjusting for direction and also for elevation so that all adjustments can be made from a single mounting, and if desired a plurality of such mount-ings can be located close together in a group to enable a number of guns to be accommodated within a relatively small volume of space of an airplane.

In an embodiment of this invention a rear gun mounting for use in an airplane is particularly suitable for the mounting oi a gun close alongside a `longitudinal gun arm, the other side of which can be provided with a lateral pair of arms adapted to support a cartridge box or magazine, although. if desired the box or magazine can be a separate entity or the linked cartridges can be fed directly to the gun without accommodation in a cartridge box or magazine. The mounting comprises a T-shaped bracket the vertical limb of which is a centre pin about which is disposed a screw threaded bush adapted to be threaded through a lug on the gun arm, the rotation of this bush effecting vertical adjustment of the T-shaped bracket. The horizontal limb of the T-shaped bracket slidably supports another bracket to which the gun is connected and which is in the form of a horizontal plate slidable upon said limb and formed with a pair of upstanding lugs receiving a horizontal pin or bolt which is adapted to be passed through a lug projecting from the gun. This plate is formed with a central lug through which is threaded a horizontal traversing screw supported by the horizontal limb of the T-shaped bracket so that such latter lug acts as a nut adapted to be traversed along the traversing screw,

The foregoing embodiment of the present invention will be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect by reference to the appended drawing illustrating such embodiment and in which,

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation view of the rear gun mounting.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation view on the line 3ra-3m of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation View on the line ltr-.4r of Fig. 2 showing the mounting of the beforesaid traversing screw.

Referring to the drawing a longitudinal axis collar l adapted to` be xed to a gun supporting arm of an airplane structure is the supporting means for the rear gun mounting and it is provided with a lateral horizontal arm 2 to receive the rear gun mounting, the support for the front end. of the gun` not being shown, such iront end support having the gun connected to it by a simple fork and swivel device or universal joint to allow for vertical. and lateral adjustment of the gun, the means for effecting these adjustments for elevation and direction being incorporated in the rear mounting for the gun. This rear mounting comprises a bracket 3 for attachment to the arm 2 and a bracket 4 for attachment to the gun.

The bracket 3 is a T-.shaped member, the upper or horizontal limb` 3a of which is a fiat oblong plate formed at its rear edge with a pair of lugs 5, in which rotate the unthreaded ends of a traversing screw 6 threaded through a lug l integral with the bracket 4, this latter bracket being a at oblong plate slidable upon the horizontal limb 3a of bracket 3 and formed with an upstanding pair oi end lugs 8 between which is received a lug or other projection or part of the gun these lugs and the appropriate part of the gun being apertured to receive a retaining pin 9 retained in position by a locking pin I0. The horizontal limb 3a of the bracket 3 is formed with slots 3b transverse in relation to the axis of the gun and slidably receiving the unthreaded median parts of studs 4a threaded at their upper ends into the bracket 4 and fitted with nuts and washers 4b at their lower ends, the washers sliding against the base of the horizontal limb of the T-shaped bracket 3. The lug 1 acts as a nut which is traversed by the screw 6 and carries the bracket 4 with it in the lateral direction relative to the arm l and guided by the said stud and slot connection between the two brackets. The screw 6 is provided with a hexagonal or other suitable head 6a to receive a Spanner for manipulating it, and the end of the screw 6 remote from such head is tted with a. stop collar 6b.

The vertical limb 3c of the T-shaped bracket 3 is of circular cross section, and is in the form of a bolt threaded at its lower end to receive a. nut ll which abuts against a washer l2 forming an abutment for the lower end of a screw threaded bush or screw I3 rotatable about the vertical limb of the T-shaped bracket 3 and threaded end of the arm 2 is split and formed with lugs p l 2,350,122 f 'ff through the outer end ofthe arm 2. 'I'his outer 2a through which is pressed a screw I4 threaded into one of the lugs to arm 2 on to the bush I 3. The top of this bush is formed with a head I3a. adapted to receive a tommy bar `or' C Spanner orV other suitable manipulating tool, such head abutting against thel base of the horizontal limb 3.a of the VT- shaped bracket 3. This screw threaded bush forms an elevating screw for adjusting the gun for elevation.

The arcs of movement of the gunarm both i vertically and laterally for setting the gun are of so large a radius and that it is unnecessary to of such smallV extent` provide special compenl" sation in the rear gun mounting for such arcuate#V pinch the free end' 1of the v between them the appropriate partv of the gun and means to connect the gun thereto, a lug on the gun receiving bracket, and a` horizontal traversing screw threaded vthrough said lug and supportedfor rotation by the upper limb of the said T-shaped bracket. Y t

2. A gun mounting for a machine gun or small cannon for usein an Vairplane,comprising a T- shapedabracket, a screw; threaded sleevev freely rotatableupon the vertical limb of said bracket and interposed between abutments on said limb,

and adapted to bethreaded into a gunsupportmovement. but if necessary the studs 4a can? have sucient play in the slots 3b to provide the ,Y

necessary compensation.

A locking wire I5 can bev passed round the .bush

I3 and through thehead of the'screw IlIto lock' them in the selected position, .it being understood that once aninitial setting lof. the vvgun Lhas been made there would be very few if any .subsequent adjustments.

. By means of thepres'ent 'invention a compact light and inconspicuous ,reary -gun mounting is :provided which ensures a veryrigidsupport for the gun and very accurate and fine adjustmentsfor direction and elevationgvin which all of the adjustments canbe made fromrthe Vone mounting in a simplemanner. I claim: p y 1 1. A gun mounting fora machine gun or small cannon for use in an airplane comprising a T- shaped bracket, a. screw threaded sleeve rotatable on the vertical limb of said bracket to adjust the bracket vertically and ,adapted tov be tted in a part of the gun supporting structure of the aircraft. a gun receiving bracket inthe form of a horizontal plateV slidable Vupon the horizontal limb of the upstanding lugs onsaid plate adapted to receive T-shaped bracket, ai1v pair .ofv

y.faceof the horizontal limb of the Jbracket and adapted to receive the ing'part ofthe aircraft structure, a tool receivingpart on said sleeve for rotating it to adjust 15A the said :bracket `rvertically, ported relatively ,slidable anotherV bracket supupon the upper surprojecting from the gun receiving bracket, a pair of lugs at the ends of said horizontal limb, a traversing screwrsupported. in 'said' of lugs and threaded through-'the other lug to traverse `thegun ,receiving bracketrelatively to the Vlf-,shaped bracket andjtransversely relatively to the gun barrel` axis. A l, f 3. A gun mountingfor a machinegunor small cannon yfor yuse in `an airplane comprising.l aT shaped bracket, a screw threaded sleeve freely rotatable upon the vertical limb `of-,said bracket and interposed betweenabutments in said limb, and adapted to be threaded into a gun support- ,ingmpartof theaircraft structure; a tool receiv- Aingl"1oart on said sleeve for rotating it to adjust a gun receiving t the said bracket vertically, bracket in the forni of aY horizontal lplate slidable upon the horizontal limbl of"vv the l Tlv-shaped bracket, la pail-fof upstanding lugs on said plate "adaptedto'receiveA between them the appropriate part ofthe gun and meansV to'connect .the gun thereto, a lug .on the gun rceivinglbracket, and a horizontal traversing screwthreaded through said lug and supported for rotation by the upper limb of the said T-shape'dliaracket.4 .4 1 1 j JAMESMAR'I'IN.

T-shaped gun, a lug latter pair 

